The cypress hermitage here have long needed some new roofing. Furthermore is the verandah
floor caving in due to almost complete undermining by rat tunnels. Hopefully can these required
improvements be finished before the torrential heavy rain sets in during the June-July monsoon.
The fact that all materials have to be truck-transported from Kandy (=~60km) and then further
hand-carried 2 km uphill this knuckles mountain to 4000 feets elevation usually increases the
costs significantly, as there is no road-access to here. Your kind contribution is thus requested here:http://what-buddha-said.net/various/Dha ... dation.htm

The roof & verandah improvements will enable a safe path for pre-dawn & night walking-meditation
under cover from the often quite heavy rain, and under lights so not to step on the quite common
poisonous polanga-pit-viper snakes, who often visits this hermitage in their night-hunt for frogs.

The Blessed Buddha once said:
When a Bhikkhu develops The 4 Feet of Force quite enriched with concentrated desire,
concentrated energy, concentrated thought and concentrated investigation constructed
by effort thinking: In this way will my desire, energy, thinking and investigating neither be
too slack nor too tense, and it will neither be constricted internally nor distracted externally,
then he dwells experiencing both what is in front and what is behind, so above, so also below,
as by day, so also at night! Thus, with a mind that is all open and unrestricted, he develops this
unique and dazzling bright mind, that is pervaded by it's own luminosity...
When the 4 feet of suprahuman force have been developed, refined and cultivated in exactly
this way, then the Bhikkhu possesses the various kinds of suprahuman force: having been one,
he becomes many; having been many, he becomes one; he appears and he vanishes; he goes fully
unhindered through a wall, through a barricade, through a mountain as if through empty space;
he dives in and out of the earth as if it were water; seated cross-legged, he travels in space
like a bird, he walks on water without sinking as if it were solid ground; with his hand he touches
and strikes the moon and sun so powerful and mighty; he masters the body and any form as far
as the fine-material Brahma world...

The Blessed Buddha once said:
When a Bhikkhu develops the The Feet of Force, that is enriched with concentrated desire,
concentrated energy, concentrated thought & concentrated investigation, all constructed
by effort, by thinking: In this way will my desire, energy, thinking and investigating neither
be too slack, nor too tense, it will neither be constricted internally, nor scattered externally,
then he dwells experiencing both what is in front & what is behind, so above, so also below,
so by day, so also at night! Therefore, with a mind that is all open & unrestricted, he develops
the dazzling bright mind, which is pervaded by its own luminosity...
When the 4 feet of suprahuman force have been developed, refined and cultivated in exactly
this way, then the Bhikkhu possesses the various kinds of suprahuman force: With the divine
ear element, which is purified and surpasses the human, he hears both divine and human sounds,
both those that are far away, as well as those that are near.

Even evaluation is characteristic of the Equanimity Link to Awakening. (Upekkha-Sambojjhanga). Preventing both deficiency & excess and
securing impartiality is the function of Equanimity. Imperturbable
ballance is the manifestation of the Equanimity Link to Awakening.
Equanimity just looks on whenever new phenomena arises and ceases.
This stable yet plastic patience purifies all the other advantageous
mental states, which reach maximum, when joined with Equanimity...

Equanimity (Upekkha) is a moderating mental construction.
Equanimity is also a mood of neither gladness nor sadness.
Equanimity is also a feeling of neither pain nor pleasure.
Equanimity is also the neutral ability to be indifferent.
Equanimity is also the 4th infinitely divine dwelling.
Equanimity is also a quite high form of happiness.
Equanimity is also a refined mental purification.
Equanimity is therefore a Link to Enlightenment...

There is Equanimity both regarding live beings and dead things.
There is Equanimity both regarding all internal & external states.
There is Equanimity both regarding all past, present and future.
There is Equanimity both regarding all mentality & all materiality.

The Buddha once said: What mental fermentations (asava) should be
overcome by development? If a Bhikkhu by alert & rational attention
develops the Equanimity Link to Awakening based on seclusion, based
on disillusion, on ceasing, culminating in full renouncing relinquishment,
then neither can mental fermentation, nor any fever, nor discontent
ever arise in him. MN2

When mind is concentrated one can observe all closely in equanimity.
The Equanimity Link to Awakening arises right there. He develops it,
and for him repeatedly meditating it goes gradually to the completion
of its development. MN118 [iii 85]

The Blessed Buddha once said:
When a Bhikkhu develops the Feet of Force that is enriched with concentrated desire,
concentrated energy, concentrated thought & concentrated investigation, all constructed
by effort, by thinking: In this way will my desire, energy, thinking and investigating neither
be too slack nor too tense, it will neither be constricted internally, nor scattered externally,
then he dwells experiencing both what is in front and what is behind, so above, so also below,
so by day, so also at night! Therefore, with a mind that is all open & unrestricted, he develops
the dazzling bright mind, which is pervaded by its own luminosity...
When the 4 feet of suprahuman force have been developed, refined and cultivated in exactly
this way, the Bhikkhu possesses the various kinds of suprahuman force: He remembers many
of his prior lives, one rebirth, two lives, three lives, four lives, five lives, ten past lives, twenty
lives, thirty lives, forty lives, fifty lives, a hundred past lives, one thousand prior lives, several
100.000 lives, many aeons (universal cycles) of world-contraction and expansion (big bangs):
There such was my name, species, family, such my appearance, such was my food, such was my
experience of pleasure and pain, such my life; passing away from there, I was reborn elsewhere.
There such was my name, species, family, such my appearance, such was my food, such was my
experience of pleasure & pain, such my life length; passing away from there, I was reborn here.
Thus he recollects his manifold various past lives & worlds in all their minutely specific details...

The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, there are these four right efforts. What four? Here, Bhikkhus:

1 Preventing Avoidance: One generates desire for the non-emergence of yet
unarisen evil disadvantageous mental states, one makes an effort, one arouses
energy, redirects mind, & strives enthusiastically to prevent bad from arising.
2 Overcoming Elimination: One generates desire for the quick elimination of
already arisen bad detrimental states, one makes an effort, arouses energy,
redirects mind, and one strives enthusiastically for eradication of all wrong...
3 Initiating Development: One generates desire for the arising of yet unarisen
advantageous mental states, one makes an effort, one arouses much energy,
redirects the mind, and strives enthusiastically for giving birth to good states...
4 Maintaining Enhancement: One generates desire for the fixed maintenance
of already arisen advantageous states, for their stable increase, expansion,
& final fulfilment by development, one makes an effort, one arouses energy,
redirects the mind, and strives enthusiastically for sustaining all right & good...
These are the four right efforts!
Bhikkhus, just as the river Ganges slants, slopes, and inclines towards the East,
even so does a Bhikkhu, who develops and cultivates these Four Right Efforts
slant, slope, slide, move, approach, glide and incline directly towards Nibbana!

Defining Comments:
Question: What are these bad, evil, wrong and disadvantageous mental states?
Answer: All mental states motivated by, or mixed with diluted derivatives of
greed, hate and ignorance are bad, evil, wrong and disadvantageous for all...
Question: What are these good, kind, right and advantageous mental states?
Answer: All mental states motivated by, or mixed with diluted derivatives of
generosity, goodwill and understanding are good, right & advantageous for all...

The Blessed Buddha often emphasized:
Bhikkhus, whatever kinds of worldly merit there are, all are not worth one
sixteenth part of the release of mind by universal friendliness; in shining,
glowing and beaming radiance, such release of mind by universal friendliness
far excels & surpasses them all...Itivuttaka 27

See this good being is happy! How fine! How excellent! Let there be Happiness!
Let there indeed be Freedom! Let there indeed be Peace! Let there be Bliss....
Let there be Understanding of this good principle. Buddhaghosa

May all beings be joyous and safe! Let every creature's mind rejoice!
Let every single living being's mind be exceedingly jubilant!
One should maintain an infinite friendliness for every single living being,
in gentle sympathy for this entire universe, unlimited, endless and vast!
This is the Divine Dwelling while actually here, they say. Buddha Gotama

The Blessed Buddha once said:
When a Bhikkhu develops the Feet of Force that is enriched with concentrated desire,
concentrated energy, concentrated thought & concentrated investigation, all constructed
by effort, by thinking: In this way will my desire, energy, thinking and investigating neither
be too slack nor too tense, it will neither be constricted internally nor scattered externally,
then he dwells experiencing both what is in front and what is behind, so above, so also below,
so by day, so also at night! Therefore, with a mind that is all open & unrestricted, he develops
the dazzling bright mind, which is pervaded by its own luminosity...
When the 4 feet of suprahuman force have been developed, refined and cultivated in exactly
this way, the Bhikkhu possesses the various kinds of suprahuman force: With the divine eye,
which is purified and surpasses the human, he sees beings passing away and being reborn,
as inferior or superior, beautiful or ugly, fortunate or unfortunate, and he understands how
beings travel on in accordance with their actions (=kamma) thus: The beings who misbehaved
bodily, verbally and mentally, who reviled the Noble Ones, held wrong view, and did actions
based on wrong view, with the break-up of their body, right after death, they are reborn in
a state of misery, in a painful destination, in the lower worlds, even in hell!
But these other beings who engaged in good behaviour bodily, verbally and mentally, who did
not revile the Noble Ones, who held right view, and undertook action based on right view,
with the break-up of their body, after death, have been reborn in a good & happy destination,
even a divine world!
Thus with the divine eye, which is purified and surpasses the human, he sees beings passing away
and being reborn, as inferior or superior, as beautiful or ugly, as fortunate or unfortunate,
and he understands how beings are reborn in accordance with their kamma (behaviour).

A certain not very well known Bhikkhu once asked the Blessed Buddha:
Venerable Sir, the removal of Greed, Hate, and Ignorance, is it often said…
What, Venerable Sir, is the real meaning of that statement?
This removal of Greed, Hate, & Ignorance is a description of the dimension
of Nibbana…The final elimination of the mental fermentations is spoken of
just like that.

Then that Bhikkhu asked the Blessed One:
Venerable Sir, the Deathless, the Deathless, is it often said…
What, Sir, is this Deathless and what is the way leading the Deathless?
The destruction of Greed, of Hate, and the destruction of Ignorance:
This is called the Deathless. The Noble 8-fold Way is the way leading to
this Deathless; that is:

Right View (samma-ditthi)
Right Motivation (samma-sankappa)
Right Speech (samma-vaca)
Right Action (samma-kammanta)
Right Livelihood (samma-ajiva)
Right Effort (samma-vayama)
Right Awareness (samma-sati)
Right Concentration (samma-samadhi)

Bhikkhu, I will teach you the taintless, the truth, the far shore ...
... the subtle ... the very difficult to see ... the unageing ... the stable ...
... the undisintegrating ... the unmanifested ... the unproliferated ...
... the peaceful ... the deathless ... the sublime ... the auspicious ...
... the secure ... the destruction of craving ... the wonderful ...
... the amazing ... the unailing ... the undecaying state ...
... the unafflicted ... disillusion ... purity ... freedom ...
... the unadhesive ... the island ... the shelter ... the asylum ...
... the refuge ... the destination ... Nibbana

The Buddha once spoke straight to Namuci also called Mara the Evil One:
Sense pleasure is your first army, discontent your 2nd, while hunger and
thirst is your 3rd army. The 4th is craving, the 5th is lethargy and laziness,
fear is your 6th, doubt is the 7th, hypocrisy and stubbornness is your 8th.
Gain, renown, honour, and whatever falsely received fame is your 9th army
you Kanha black dark-minded one. One who is not hero cannot conquer that,
but having defeated it, one gains great happiness. Having brought my mind
under full control, well-established in continuous awareness, I will wander
through the kingdoms, training many disciples, who alert and well motivated,
despite your temptations, will go where having gone, one cannot ever grieve!
Realizing his defeat Mara , the Evil One, replied: For seven long years I have
followed the Blessed One, step by step, without ever obtaining even a single
opportunity against this perfectly Self-Enlightened One, who is fully aware.
Like a crow, which circled a yellow stone, which appeared like a lump of fat,
thinking "Perhaps I can find something soft & sweet here", but after having
attacked the rock, without getting anything, went away sadly disappointed,
even and exactly so will I have to go away. Discouraged the demon's lute fell
from his armpit and overwhelmed by frustration he disappeared right there.. Sutta-Nipata verses 436-449. Edited excerpt.

This highborn hedonistic devil is called Namuci = “no escape”, since he lets
no one escape, and Mara = “death”, since he leads beings into a repeated
cycle of birth and death.... Buddha also rightly called him The Evil One,
since he with ease can enter any being's mind and make them do evil.

On the vulture’s peak hill, prince Abhaya once asked the Blessed Buddha:Sir, what is the Causes of not seeing, not knowing, & not Understanding?

The All-Seeing Blessed One responded:
At such time, prince, when one remains with a mind possessed and overwhelmed by
sensual desire, and one does not know any way to escape this sensual lust, that has
arisen - this condition itself, prince, is the cause of not seeing, and of not knowing.
Therefore, not seeing, and not knowing have indeed a specific cause, and is indeed
conditioned by an essential prerequisite. [Such as desire for sensing]

Then again, prince, when one remains with a mind possessed and overwhelmed by
ill will, and does not know any way to escape or still this anger, that has arisen,
then this exact condition itself is the cause of not seeing, and of not knowing.
Therefore, not seeing, and not knowing have indeed a specific cause, and is indeed
conditioned by a necessary requirement. [Such as hate, ill will, anger, and irritation]

Then again, prince, when one remains with a mind possessed and overwhelmed by
lethargy and laziness, and does not know any way to escape such apathy & dullness,
then this exact condition itself is the cause of not seeing, and of not knowing.
Therefore, not seeing, and not knowing have indeed a specific cause, and is created
by an indispensable requirement. [Such as lethargy & laziness]

Then again, prince, when one remains with a mind possessed and overwhelmed by
restlessness and regret, and does not know any way to escape this restlessness and
anxious remorse, then this exact condition itself, is the cause of not seeing, and of
not knowing. Therefore, not seeing, not knowing have indeed a cause, & is conditioned
by a specific crucial necessity. [Such as restlessness and regret]

Then again, prince, when one remains with a mind possessed and overwhelmed by
uncertainty, doubt and confusion and does not know any way to escape this doubt,
uncertainty, and confusion, then this very condition, is the cause of not seeing, and
of not knowing.Therefore, not seeing, not knowing have a cause, and is created by a
causal requirement... [Such as uncertainty and skeptical doubt]

What, Sir, is this method of teaching called?
These, prince, are called: The Hindrances...!

The Blessed Buddha once said:
When a Bhikkhu develops the Feet of Force that is enriched with
concentrated desire, concentrated energy, concentrated thought &
concentrated investigation, all constructed by effort, by thinking:
In this way will my desire, energy, thinking and investigating neither
be too slack nor too tense, it will neither be constricted internally
nor scattered externally, then he dwells experiencing both what is
in front & what is behind, so above, so also below, so by day, so also
at night! Therefore, with a mind that is all open & unrestricted, he
develops the dazzling bright mind, which is pervaded by luminosity...
When the 4 feet of suprahuman force have been developed, refined
and cultivated in exactly this way, the Bhikkhu possesses the various
kinds of suprahuman force: Such Bhikkhu, by the total destruction
& complete elimination of the 3 mental fermentations, in this very
life enters and dwells in the fermentation-free release of mind, in
the fermentation-freed release of understanding, realizing it for
himself by direct knowledge, through own direct experience...

What, Bhikkhus, is the training in higher morality?
Herein the monk is possessed of morality, is fully controlled by the monastic code
of 227 disciplinary rules, perfected in pure conduct & behaviour by recoiling from
even the minutest offense, he trains himself in these higher moral training rules. This is called the training in higher morality!

What, Bhikkhus, is the training in higher consciousness?
Herein the monk, secluded from sensual desires, protected from any detrimental
mental state, enters & dwells in the 1st jhana of joy & pleasure born of solitude,
in directed & sustained thought. He enters the 2nd, 3rd & 4th jhana absorption.This is called the training in higher consciousness!

What, Bhikkhus, is the training in higher understanding?
Herein the monk completely understands according to the actual reality:
What Suffering is, What the Cause of Suffering is,
What the Ceasing of Suffering is, and
What the Way leading to ceasing of Suffering is.This is called the training in higher understanding!

Sopaka awakened as novice, when 7 years old! The Buddha then asked him:
One is what? All beings are fuelled by Nutriment (Ahara) answered the boy.
Two is what? Name and form (Nama-Rupa), responded the novice promptly!
Three is what? The three kinds of Feeling, was this assured boy's reply...
Four is what? The Four Noble Truths, returned this perfected novitiate..
Five is what? The Five Clusters of Clinging, acknowledged this not-pupil..
Six is what? The Six Sense-Sources, responded this all trained & learned.
Seven is what? The Seven Links to Awakening, answered this eldest boy..
Eight is what? The Noble Eightfold Path, replied this one gone to the end!
Nine is what? The Nine Abodes of Beings, explained this worthy junior...
Ten is what? One who is endowed with Ten Qualities is defined an Arahat.... Khp 1-6;9

Matured Mind and not an old body defines the worthy Senior!

More on this Sopaka, who became Enlightened, when only 7 years old:http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/s/sopaka.htm
Having accumulated the right conditions in prior lives, he was almost & very
close to be able to awaken in his last life... Therefore he could enlighten as
only 7 years old in this his last existence! Though his biological frame was
that young, his mind was the eldest & most mature among his un-awakened
monk colleagues. Any Arahat is the oldest and most senior in the universe!
To make the other monks understand, that they should not clap his head &
treat him as junior, although they were much older than him biologically,
the Buddha asked him these ten questions, which are studied intensely by
all Theravada novices even today 2500 years after! May all disciples do so!These 10 questions are not trivial!

Please then remember what the Buddha once pointed out:Only suffering arises… Only suffering ceases!

Seeing this, one then understands that: Nothing is Worth Clinging to…
Then it is much more easy to let go, when realizing, that it is only pure suffering,
one separates from. Nothing really good is thus lost. Relinquishing all is the only:
Absolute Freedom; Highest Happiness; and Supreme Peace… Yeah!

The deepest kind of craving & clinging is to that of (re)becoming into a new existence!
Clinging to being in existence itself makes one be reborn, die and thus suffer again and again…

All phenomena are sure to cease. All being in existence will be cut off by transience.
All becoming is therefore truly a Terror of being Trapped into Being in Existence!

Once when Venerable Girimananda was sick, then the Buddha said to Ven. Ananda:
If you, Ananda, would go to Ven. Girimananda & explain to him the 10 experiences,
it may be that Girimananda's illness will be cured instantly!
And which are these ten experiences? They are:
1: The experience of Impermanence, and inconstancy (Anicca-Sañña).
2: The experience of No-Self, Egolessness, and Impersonality (Anatta-Sañña).
3: The experience of Disgust, Loathsomeness, and Foulness (Asubha-Sañña).
4: The experience of Danger, Damage, and Disadvantage (Adinava-Sañña).
5: The experience of Leaving Behind, Removal, and Giving up (Pahana-Sañña).
6: The experience of Disillusion, Dispassion, and Detachment (Viraga-Sañña).
7: The experience of Ceasing, Stilling, and Final Finishing (Nirodha-Sañña).
8: The experience of Disappointment with entire world (Sabbaloka-Anabhirati-Sañña).
9: The experience of Transience of all formations (Sabbasankharesu Anicca-Sañña).
10: The experience of Breathing Awareness (Anapanasati-Sañña).
Having learnt and fully memorized these ten experiences from the Blessed Buddha,
the Venerable Ananda went to the Venerable Girimananda and recited these ten
experiences to him. Then as soon as the Venerable Girimananda heard these ten
experiences explained, his illness instantly subsided! This was thus the way
the Venerable Girimananda was cured, and could rise from his sick-bed....(To see and know that in advance takes a SammaSamBuddha!)

Feelings are like bubbles, empty, void, without substance, quickly bursting!

What, Bhikkhus, is the ability to feel pleasure?
Whatever bodily pleasure there is, whatever bodily comfort, any pleasant
agreeable feeling born of body-contact: This is the ability to feel pleasure.What, Bhikkhus, is the ability to feel pain?
Whatever bodily pain there is, whatever bodily discomfort, painful, aching
disagreeable feeling born of body-contact: This is the ability to feel pain.What, Bhikkhus, is the ability to feel gladness?
Whatever mental pleasure there is, whatever mental comfort, and pleasing
agreeable feeling born of mental contact: This is the ability to feel gladness.What, Bhikkhus, is the ability to feel sadness?
Whatever mental frustration there is, whatever mental grief, disagreeable
feeling born of mental contact: This is the ability to feel sadness.What, Bhikkhus, is the ability to feel equanimity?
Whatever feeling there is, whether bodily or mental, that is neutral & thus
neither comfortable, nor uncomfortable, neither agreeable nor disagreeable:
This, Bhikkhus, is called the ability to feel equanimity. These 5, Bhikkhus, are the five abilities to feel feelings.

Noteworthy Central Implications:
If unaware & untrained then bodily pleasure and mental gladness will incite
greed, lust and derivatives such as desire, craving, wanting, urge & longing!
If unaware and untrained, then bodily pain and mental sadness will induce
aversion, hate and derivatives such as anger, wrath, irritation & opposition!
If unaware and untrained, then mental equanimity will instigate ignorance,
neglect, and derivatives such as doubt, hesitation, uncertainty & confusion!
If aware and trained then mental equanimity will activate bliss, knowing &
seeing and will through peace refine and complete all other good states!
This core causality made Buddha exclaim: All states converges on Feeling!!!

One who wants to develop the recollection of deities should possess the special
quality of faith evoked by means of the noble path. He should go into solitary
retreat and recollect his own special qualities of faith, purity and understanding,
with the deities as if standing as witnesses, in this very way: There are deities on
the plane of the Four Great Kings, of the Realm of the Thirty-three, Yama World,
the Contented Devas, those enjoying own creation, those with power over others
creations, those of the Brahma world, and those formless ones far above them...
All those deities were possessed of faith so that on dying here they were reborn
there, and such faith is present in me too. And those deities were possessed of
virtue ... of learning... of generosity ... of understanding, such that when they died
here they were reborn there in a divine dimension, and such understanding is also
present in me too! (AN III 287). He recollects his own special qualities, making the
deities stand as witnesses. When a bhikkhu is devoted to this remembrance of the
deities, he becomes dearly loved by those deities. He obtains even greater fullness
of faith. He has much happiness and gladness. And if he penetrates no higher, he is
at least headed for a happy destiny.

Typical appearance and postures of some Devas.

Now when a man is truly wise,
His constant task will surely be
This recollection of the Deities
Blessed with such mighty potency!Vism I 226

The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus and Friends: Once the mental release by infinite Friendliness
has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded,
made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will
be impossible for ill-will to take possession of and obsess the mind, for
the mental release by infinite Friendliness is the release from all ill-will!
Once the mental release by compassionate Pity & tender understanding
has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded,
made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will
be impossible for violence to take possession of and obsess the mind, for
the mental release by compassionate Pity is the release from all violence!
Once the mental release by mutual Joy rejoicing in other being's success
has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded,
made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will be impossible for discontent to take possession of & obsess the mind, for
the mental release by mutual Joy is the release from all discontent!
Once the mental release by serene, still and imperturbable Equanimity
has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded,
made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will be impossible for greed & lust to take possession of & obsess the mind, for
release by imperturbable Equanimity is the deliverance from all greed!